10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Collision In Korea
WCW's bid to be "bigger than WrestleMania", chilling murder plots, Hulk Hogan and more.
VICE kicked off the third season of their critically-acclaimed 'Dark Side Of The Ring' tell-all by examining the life and career of one Brian Pillman. That two-parter was explosive, compelling and downright scary at times. Somehow, even that couldn't match the chills that come from the likes of Eric Bischoff and Scott Norton as they recall WCW's trip to North Korea back in 1995.
There's fear in those men's voices even now.
'Collision In Korea' was a joint effort by WCW and New Japan to promote peace in a country that wasn't really known for it. Antonio Inoki wanted to use mainstream stars like Muhammad Ali, and pro wrestling's finest, to put on an exhibition that'd encourage tolerance, respect and unity.
It was a worthy pursuit, but it led to one of the most agonising trips of Bischoff, Norton or Ric Flair's entire lives. Two of those guys, along with other talking heads like 2 Cold Scorpio, remembered their jaunt to North Korea on VICE's doc.
They shared stories of personal horror, murder plots, p*ssing off WWE boss Vince McMahon and much, much more.
Here's everything we learned...
10. “Can’t Make That One, Brother!”
Hulk Hogan wasn't having it.
His staunch refusal to travel over to North Korea for Inoki's peace festival was the ultimate, 'That doesn't work for me, brother' flex. Eric Bischoff told VICE's cameras that Hulk barely hesitated before knocking back the chance to see a new country or be part of 'Collision In Korea' at all.
Inoki thought that might happen (he described Hogan as "a very careful man" on the doc), but wanted Bischoff to try and sway his friend. It wasn't happening - Hulk wanted nothing to do with the show, and he wouldn't entertain the thought of becoming a focal point alongside Muhammad Ali.
That left Eric with a quandary. Hogan was WCW's top star by 1995, and there were few others who could match his mainstream star power. Thankfully, there was someone else who was willing to play ball and go to North Korea. He wasn't too thrilled about being second choice though.